Circuit-controller



A. SIMON.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5. I9I5.

Patented May 17, 1921.

asIIEET l A. SIMON.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5. I9I5.

1,378,059. Patented May 17,/1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. SIMON.

CIRCUIT CONTROLLER,

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5. |915.

1,378,059. Patented 1l A 921.

In 91 55 A56 UNITED stares FATENT FFICE.

ARTHUR simon, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, Assis-Non tro rrIIE Oumma-HAMMER.MEG. oo., or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A conromi'rion or WISCONSIN,

CIRCUIT-CONTROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 17, 1921.

Application filed May 1 5, 1915. Serial No. 28,406.

To all whom t may concer/L I Be it known that I, ARTHUR SIMON, a citizenof the United States. residing at Mil waukee, in the county of Milwaukeeand State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements inCircuit-Controllers,

of which the following is a full, clear, conoise, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to improvements in circuit controllers and, whilenot limited thereto, is particularly applicable to motor controllers.

One of the objects of the invention isto providean improved multipleswitch controller wherein the several switches will be positivelyoperated in a. definite order, automatically locked in closed positionto relieve their operating means from the load thereof and positivelymoved to open position when released.

A further object is to provide a controller of the aforesaid characterwherein the connections between the several switches and their operatingmeans inherently function to lock said switches after closure thereof.

A further object of the invention is to lprovide a controller withimproved means for either power or manual operation thereof.

A further object is to provide a controller with alternative manual andpower operating means wherein a singleelectromagnet serves to controltheconnection between the controller and the power operating means and alsoserves as a means to retain the controller in on position after eithermanual or power operation thereof but subject to release upon failure ofvoltage.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterappear.

The invention will now be more specifif cally described in. connectionwith the accompanying drawings which illustrate one of a number ofpossible embodiments thereof.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of the controller; Fig. -2 is anend view thereof; Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken on lines 3 and4 respectively, Fig. l; the former showing a switch in open position`and the latter showing a switch in closed position the controller Fig.6 is a detail view of a part shown in F1g.' 5, and

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing the controller connected to anelectric motor to serve as a starter therefor.

Referring to Fig. l, the controller comprises in general switch levers 1to 9 having a common operating shaft 10 provided with operating members1l to 19, one for each of said levers. Each member acts upon itsrespective lever through a to gle connection, as hereinafter morespecifically set forth., to both open and close the same with a positiveaction, said toggle connection after operation to close its switchinherently setting to lock the same closed until tripped by reversemovement of its operating member. As illustrated, the membersll to 19are so arranged on the shaft 10 as to close the switches 1, 2 and 3simultaneously and to thereafter close the remaining switchesprogressively, although it will be understood that said members might bearranged in any other desired manner. The shaft 10 is provided with areturn spring 20 and is manually operable against the action of saidspring by a hand lever 25, Fig. 1, or by the motor drive, Fig. 5, aswill hereinafterbe explained. Also, as. will be hereinafter set forth,the shaft 10 has associated therewith an electromagnetic clutch forlocking the same against reverse rotation under the influence of spring2O but subject to release at will.

All of the switches are of like construction and as illustrated indetail in Figs. 3 and 4, which show switches 2 and 4 respectively.Referring to Fig. 3 the switch lever 2 is fulcrumed in a supportingbracket 30 and carries a laminated brush'31 to bridge stationarycontacts 32 and 33 and a pivoted arcing contact 34 to engage astationary carbon contact 35. Adjacent to its lower end the lever 2 hasan outwardly extending lug 36 to which is fulcrumed a pawl 37 of a bellcrank form. One arm of the pawl carries a roller 38 to ride on theperiphery of member 12 while the other. arm of said pawl is connected bya pivoted link 39 with the supporting bracket 30. The parts justdescribed are so arranged as to form a toggle whereby movementof thepawl through eny`to be noted that the gagement of the member 12 androller 38 positively forces the lever into c1rcu1t clos- 1n ositionwhereupon the toggle, as shown in 1g. 4, sets to lock the lever againstreturn movement. Such operation of the pawl 1s effected by a shoulder 40on the member 12 which upon clockwise rotation of said member, strikesand raises the roller, thereby rotating the pawl counter-clockwise tothe position illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein a projection 37 on the pawlabuts the front face of the switch lever. In this connection it iseripheral surface of the member 12 extending counter-clockwise from theshoulder40 is of such radius as to clear the roller during continuedclockwise rotation of the member 12 whereby said member is relieved ofthe friction of said roller and in consequence entirely relieved of theload of the switch lever during continued rotation of the shaft 10 tooperate the other switch levers. The member 12 also serves upon reverserotation to break the toggle, this being accomplished by a shoulder 41on the vertical face of said member to coperate with a tail piece 42 onthe pawl 37. As shown in Fig. 4, the tail piece is projected into thepath of the shoulder 41 when the toggle is set so that uponcounter-clockwise rotation of the member 12 said shoulder abuts saidtail piece and thereby rotates the pawl 37 in a clockwise directionwhich acts to release the switch lever and also to positively -withdrawsaid lever from circuitclosing position. As above stated, all of theswitches are of like construction and provision is thus made for thepositive closing, locking and opening of each.

The members 11 to 19 as before stated, are set in different angularpositions on the shaft but structurally they are identical except intheir manner of attachment to. the

'shaft 10. As illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, a

portion of the shaft 10 is rectangular in cross section while anotherportion is circular. The rectangular portion of the shaft is providedwith an insulating covering 45 and the members 11, 12 and 13 of switches1, 2 and 3 are secured to this insulated portion of the shaft bysuitable clamps 46, the remaining members 14 to 19 being mounted on thecircular portion of the shaft and being locked thereto by set screws 47.This particular arrangement of the members on the shaft is provided fora specific use of the controller, as will hereinafter appear.

The shaft is mounted in suitable bearings 50 and 51 and has extensionsbeyond both bearings. The operating lever 25 is revolubly mounted uponthe left hand extension l of the shaft 10 and is arranged to rotate saidshaft and the cams thereon in a direction for closure of the severalswitches b abutment with a stop 52 xed to said sha and projecting intothe path of said lever.

The lever is mounted in this manner so that it may remain stationarywhen the controller is operated by power. However, it will be apparentthat if desiredthe lever might be fixed to the shaft. Also for controlof the electrical means hereinafter described, the lever has associatedtherewith a pair of contact clips 53 and 54 which it bridges in its downposition and a pair of contact clips 55, 56 which it bridges in its upposition, while the extreme left hand end of the shaft 10 has fixedthereto drum segments 57 and 58 coperating with stationary contactfingers 59 and 60 respectively. The drum segments are electricallyconnected and are so arranged as to engage their respective fingersexcept in the one angular position of the shaft representing closure ofall of the switch levers.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 6 the return spring 20 for shaft 10 iscoiled about said shaft and has its inner end fixed thereto while itsouter end is secured by a bolt 61 to the bearing 51. Also, it will benoted, that the spring is coiledl in a direction whereby it will act torotate shaft 10 and the cams thereon in a direction for opening of theseveral switches.

Referring now to F 5, the power driving mechanism comprlses an electricmotor 70 driving through a suitable coupling 71 into a worm gear set 72and thence throu h a mechanical clutch 73 to a pinion 74 mes ing with adouble pinion 75, in turn meshing with a pinion 76 on the right handextension of controller shaft 10. The .mechanical clutch 73 thus servesto couple and uncouple'the motor and controller at will. Moreover, theclutch being interposed between the -controller shaft and the worm gearset 72 serves as a means to releasably lock the shaft 10 againstrotation by the spring 20, it being understood that when the clutch isset and the motor inert the worm gear locks the clutch member associatedtherewith against rotation. The clutch is controllable by a lever 77biased by a tension device 78 to disengage the clutch members and saidlever is provided with an operating solenoid 79 for effecting movementthereof to engage the clutch members.

eferring now to Fig. 7, the controller is shown as employed forstarting. an alternating current motor M. The switch levers 1, 2 and 3control the primary circuit of the motor and to provide properinsulation between the same the cams 11, 12 and 13 are mounted on theinsulated section of the shaft 10 as heretofore s et forth, while theswitches 4 to 9 respectively control resistances r* to 1' in thesecondary circuit of the motor.

The driving motor 70 for the controller More specifically thearrangement is Such that with the lever 25 in down position closure ofswitch 80 completes circuit from line Z of the supply circuit byconductor 85 through said switch 80, by conductor 86V through thecontacts'53--54 at which point the circuit divides, one branch extendingby conductor 87 through the drum segments 57-58 by conductor 88 throughthe motor 70, by conductor 89 to line Z of the supply circuit, while theother branch extends by conductor 90 through the clutch solenoid 79 toconductor 89 and thence to line Z. Hence closure of switch 8O underthese conditions couples the motor to the shaft 10 and sets said motorin operation whereupon the controller` is operated automatically'. Uponcompletion of such operation the drum segments 57-58 disengage theirrespectivecontact fingers thereby interrupting the circuit of motor 70while the solenoid 79 remains energized to maintain the controller inrunning position. When it is desired to stop the motor M then the switch80 is opened to denergize solenoid 79 thereby releasing the clutch andthe controller shaft 10 to permit the latter to operate under theinfiuence of the spring 20. Such operation of the shaft, as above setforth, effects positive opening of all of the switch levers.

v For manual operation the switch 8() is allowed to remain open wherebythe ebntroller is maintained free of the motor driving mechanism andhence is readily operable by the lever 25. When, however, the controlleris fully o erated, lever 25 bridges contacts 55-56 t ereby completingcircuit from line Z by conductors 85 and,9l through said contacts, byconductors 92 and 90 through the clutch solenoid to conductor 89 andline Z thereby energizing said solenoid to set the clutch. This againlocks the conA troller shaftand, under such conditions, release of thecontroller shaft for return of the controller to off position iseffected by withdrawal vof the lever 25 from the conta'ct clips :S5-56,which denergizes the solenoid 79 with the results aforesaid.

It will thus be apparent that the means described provides for readilyshifting the control of the device to either the operating lever or tothe motor driving mechanism as desired, and provides for control of theelec trical means in a very simple and convenient manner, at the sametime utilizing the solenoid 79 for the double function above de- Yscribed. Also it will be apparent that should the line voltage faildurlng operation of the controller or subsequently, solenoid 79 wouldrelease the clutch and thereby release-the controller for automaticreturn to off position.

What I claim' as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l 1. Incombination, a pivotedI switch member biased to open position, an armpivoted thereto and extending outwardly therefrom, a link element havingone end pivotally connected to the outer end of said arm and itsopposlte end pivoted at a fixed point, said arm being normally disposedat an acute angle to said link element and being movable through aposition wherein its pivot points are in alinement with the pivot pointsof the latter to move said switch member into closed position with atoggle action and to lock the same therein, and a cam operable to movesaid arm in opposite directions to effect opening and closing movementsof said switch member.

2. In combination, a pivoted switch member blased to open position, alever pivoted thereto and having a `plurality of arms extendingoutwardly therefrom, a link element having one end pivotally connectedto the outer end of one of said arms and its opposite end pivoted at afixed point, said arm being disposed at an acute angle to said link 100element and being movable through a position wherein its pivot pointsare in alinement with the pivot points of the latte:` to move saidswitch member into closed position with a toggle action and to lock thesame 105 therein,` and a rotatable cam member asy sociated with theother arm of said lever to 8. In combination, a pivoted switch memberbiased to open position, a lever pivoted thereto and having a pluralityof arms ex tending outwardly therefrom, and a link element having oneend pivotally connected to the outer end of one of said arms and itsopposite end pivoted at a fixed point, said arm being disposed at anacute angle to said link element and being movable through a positionwherein its pivot points are in alinement with the pivot points of thelatter to move said switch member into closed position and to lock thesame therein and a rotatable cam having a radial projection to act uponthe other arm of said lever to move the same in one direction forclosure of said switch -member and an axial projection for engaging saidlatter arm to move the same in an opposite direction for opening of saidswitch member.

4. In a circuit controller, in combination,

a plurality of pivoted switch members, a link and lever mechanismassociated with -each for moving the sameto closed position with I atoggle action and for locking the same therein, said mechanisms eachincluding an arm pivoted to its respective switch member and extendingoutwardly therefrom and a link element disposed at an acute angle tosaid arm and having one end pivoted to the outer end thereof and-itsopposite end plv-- oted at a fixed point and an operating member commonto said switch members and having a plurality of shouldered membersrespective switch arm and havmg a depend.

ing lug and an operating member common to said switch arms and having aplurality of shouldered members to actuate the depending lu of saidmechanisms for positive closing an release of said switch arms, saidrojections being disposed to act upon Athe ugs of said mechanisms in adenite order and to disengage each afterv closure of the switch armassociated therewith.

6. In combination, a circuit controller biased to a predeterminedposition, alternative manual and power operating means therefor, andelectro-responsive means functioning to control the connection betweensaid power-operating means and ysaid circuit controller and toreleasably lock said controller against return movement after operationby either said manual or power means.,

7. In. combination, a circuit controller biased to a predeterminedposition, alternative manual and power operating means for saidcontroller and an electro-ma neticall controlled device for coupling saicontro ler to said power operating means for opercontrolled device forcoupling saidcontroller to said power operating means for lop'- erationthereof and for restraining said controller against its biased movement'after operation by either said manual or power operating means butsubject'to release of said controller upon 'failure of line voltage.

9. In combination, a circuit controller biased `to circuit breakingposition, power ."operating means for said controller, an elec.

tro-magnetically controlled coupling be-` tween said controller and saidmeans land manual operatmg means for sald controller ,governing saidelectro-magnetically coni trolled coupling to lock said controller inyciruit making position subject to releaseat W1 will, saidelectro-magnetically controlledv coupling bein subject to release uponfailure of line vo tage. l

In witness whereof, I have lhereunto Subscribed my name.

ARTHUR SIMON;

"10.- In combination, a circuit controller so `i

